Voice of the Volunteer Lawmen

South Carolina passes concealed weapons law

On June 12, 1996, the South Carolina Legislature enacted “The Law Abiding Citizens Self-defense Act of 1995″

This law provides easier access to concealed weapons permits for law abiding citizens.

It also corrects an earlier problem facing Reserve Police Officers who in the past had to obtain a concealed weapons permit to carry off-duty and did so as a private citizen subject to the constraints of the permit.

With the new law, a reserve police officer can now carry off-duty without having to get a permit and not be subject to the constraints of the limitations as to where the reserve may carrrry that are placed on a permit holder.

Section 16-23-20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

“Section 16-23-20. It is unlawful for anyone to carry about the person any pistol, whether concealed or not, except as follows: (1) Regular, salaried law enforcement officers and reserve police officers of a municipality or county of the state, uncompensated Governor’s constables, law enforcement officers of the federal government or other states when they are carrying out official duties while in this state, and deputy enforcement officers of the natural resources enforcement division of the department of natural resources. Also take into account the directives of the department for which the reserve officer works.”